Documenting the 25D revisited

[Sea Hunt Video]

Fran (Trapper), Joe, Neil, Bill and all:

I spent a couple of hours carefully inspecting every interior cabin area on S/V Bali Ha'i looking for a place to install the USCG documentation placard.

Two additional possibilities:

1. On the inboard side of the starboard quarterberth. If it is epoxyed onto the fiberglass wall, it should be permanent and, if removed, would be clearly visible that "something" was removed. The only downside is you can only see it when leaning into the quarterberth.

2. Along the fiberglass bulkhead behind the cabin steps and next to the sink. Again, if it is epoxyed onto the fiberglass wall, it should be permanent and, if removed, would be clearly visible that "something" was removed.

Thoughts Comments Does Don'ts

P.S. Sustained winds of 30-32 kts on Key Biscayne. While I am sure S/V Bali Ha'i would have enjoyed herself immensely, her "caretaker" - ah, not so much.

[bhartley]

Inside the cockpit locker. Pyxis' is there even though her documentation has expired. It is permanent but unobtrusive. Numbers are stenciled in black with clear epoxy over.

Just my .02.

[Neil Gordon]

1. On the inboard side of the starboard quarterberth. 2. Along the fiberglass bulkhead behind the cabin steps and next to the sink.

Just keep the rules in mind...

"... on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull."

Wouldn't want you to get in trouble with the authorities.

[Joe Myerson]

Remember the words "interior structural part of the hull." I'm not sure that the inside of the cockpit locker qualifies, but it might.

Still, why take chances?

I'd second Neil's recommendations, just to be on the safe side.

--Joe

[Neil Gordon]

Remember the words "interior structural part of the hull." I'm not sure that the inside of the cockpit locker qualifies, but it might.

Joe,

On LIQUIDITY, the hull defines most of the cockpit locker. Isn't that true on the 25D?

[barfwinkle]

Robert

Can you put it in the port locker (outboard) or even in the bilge? Why not in the anchor well?

Fair winds

[trapper]

I think you can also attached it to the hull liner slats. So you could attached it to the slats above the shelf above the settee or even behind the settee back. Also on the hull liner slats in the quater berth.

I was told that wood hull liner is considered the hull.

[Neil Gordon]

Getting this wrong isn't exactly a felony (I don't think) or something that will cause the Coast Guard to seize your vessel (I don't think) but I'm failing to see where some of the suggested locations are "structural" parts of the hull, if parts of the hull at all.

I'm supposing that 100% of a laid up fiberglass hull is "structural." On boats made from wood or metal, planking and plates might not be structural.

Notwithstanding my first paragraph, this is not a debate I'd want to be having with guys with guns.

[Joe Myerson]

Getting this wrong isn't exactly a felony.

How true. I think we're quibbling.
BTW, a friend, who is a quibbler at times, once pointed out that my homeport name was not in 4-inch letters. Did I repaint the transom? Nope.
The Coasties have passed my boat several times without stopping. Presumably they had better things to do with their time--and mine.

Put the number in the most convenient place. If you're using stick-on numerals, be sure to epoxy them in place and coat them with clear epoxy. You'll be fine. (Don't try to use this posting in maritime court, however!)

--Joe

[Sea Hunt Video]

Inside the cockpit locker. Pyxis' is there even though her documentation has expired. It is permanent but unobtrusive. Numbers are stenciled in black with clear epoxy over.

Just my .02.

Bill, Bly, Neil, Joe, Trapper, Steve and all:

I checked the port side cockpit locker aft of the battery compartment. There is about 32"-34" along the inside of the hull that is available for installation of the USCG documentation number. I had hoped to install a nice wood/teak plaque with the USCG No. However, the hull curves inward toward the stern and I do not think I can properly affix a wood plaque to this without either building up the interior hull to make it "flat" or curving the teak plaque to make it conform to the hull.

That said, I plan to go with Bly's and Steve's suggestion. For now, I will get some "stick on" numbers and cover them with a clear epoxy coating. It may not look perfect but it will do for now. In 1-2 years I can always install a teak plaque or other.

Thanks for all the input.

[Oswego John]

Hi Robert,

There is a way that you can route figures on a board and attach it to a curved surface. It is a woodworkers little way of cheating.

I'm not going into much detail now, but here's the gist of the method used.

Cut the board to the finished dimensions. Sand smooth one of the flat faces and all four edges. Run a series of saw kerfs across the width of the other face of the board. The kerfs should only be to about half the depth of the thickness of the board. If you are using half inch thick wood, run the series of kerfs to about 1/4". Remember that you have to allow for the depth of the routed figures so you don't punch through.

I would suggest that you cut a piece of cheap wood and practice for flexibility. This will give you a better idea of how many saw cuts needed and what is the spacing between the cuts. Experiment with it.

After the cuts are made to the back of the board, it should be able to bend to conform to the contour of the hull. When satisfied, hold the board in place where you want it and mark around it with a pencil. Epoxy it to the hull, using external pressurt to maintain curvature.

When the epoxy is cured, you will notice the ends of the saw kerfs showing at the top edge. Save the sawdust from the saw cuts and mix it with a wood filler to fill the kerfs. Some people like to stain the board before filling the voids. That way, the filler can be tinted to match the rest of the board. You can also use molding trim to hide the cuts

Of course, there is always the steam bent method. I think that we already went through that with your Ty's toe/rub rails.

Anyhow, FWIW, here is another alternative to consider.

Good luck,
O J

[Steve Laume]

My guess is that in 1 or 2 years you will not give this a second thought.

The idea of carving the Doc numbers into the ship made a whole lot more sense before we had epoxy and boats were made of wood. If you want a nice woodworking project you could always carve a name board that you could detach for refinishing or keep as a memento if you ever move up to a CD-36.

Now on to the next project, Steve.

[barfwinkle]

Well I just submitted Rhapsody's Initial Documentation Request using the "Send PDF Filing" at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc/nvdcpoc.asp. We'll see how long it takes.

Fair Winds

Oh and Robert, my Mac that was the problem. As soon as I opened the form on an IBM machine and completed it, it calculated the gross and net tonnage and printed at the top of the form.

Fair Winds

[trapper]

Robert,

I think putting numbers in the locker and epoxying them in is probably a better idea than my beautiful board and it is a lot cheaper. Also, it does not take up any room and storage is at a premium on the 25D.

[barfwinkle]

Gotta love technology. The Coasties already have Rhapsody's application. However they are just now working on applications from 2/3/2012. So it'll be a day or two.

Fair winds.